The state of gay marriage

Some say, "I do," and some say, "I don't" -- support gay marriage, that is.

The approval of Proposition 8 in California and other measures in Arizona and Florida was a victory for some.

"Even liberal California voted very clearly; they're not ready to tamper with the institution of marriage and to expand it," said David Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, a Christian nonprofit organization.

"I'm hoping our lawmakers understand their constituency is not unlike the other American citizens and voters in 30 other states who have voted overwhelmingly as a whole to protect marriage from radical redefinition."

Last week, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear legal challenges to the ban on gay marriage.

Still, the passage of Prop. 8 disheartened gay rights activists and supporters but has mobilized people across the country and in Chicago.

"I hope it's one little bump in the road. Like any civil rights battle it's a long journey, and the turnout [at the Nov. 15 rally to protest Prop. 8 in Chicago] and all around the country shows we're in it for the long haul," said Brooke Skinner, 28, who lives in Edgewater.

A 2005 survey of 600 people commissioned by Equality Illinois, a statewide gay civil rights organization, found the people of Illinois believe gay couples should be protected in hospital visitation, adoption and inheritance rights, health benefits for partners of government employees and filing joint tax returns, said Rick Garcia, Equality Illinois' director of public policy.

What is the future of the civil unions bill pending in the state legislature?

"The concern is it might stall. But on the other hand, we can use this [outcry against the passage of Prop. 8] to increase momentum," said Courtney Reid, program director at the Center on Halsted, the Boystown community center that provides services and support groups to the gay community.

More than 1,500 couples are listed on the Cook County domestic partnership registry, which doesn't provide any legal rights. The 5-year-old registry provides proof of a relationship should employers require it for partners to receive benefits, said Courtney Greve, a spokeswoman for the county clerk's office.

Illinois' civil unions bill "would give the various rights and obligations that married couples have to people who are in civil unions," said state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill.

"There still seems to be a little bit of resistance about the use of the word marriage. But people understand folks in relationships deserve basic fundamental rights, like hospital visitation, medical decision-making for partners, disposition of partners' remains," he said.

The bill was not called for a vote on the last scheduled day of the session for this year. The general assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield in January.